Browsing Tag

UK Hip Hop

Twivee – GODLIKE feat Jay Will: Hip Hop to Get Pious To

Posted on 29 April 2022

For his latest release, hip hop writer, mixer, and producer, Twivee, collaborated with new wave pioneer Jay Will to create a stormer of an impassioned alt hip hop hit. GODLIKE is enough to leave you feeling pious to the aggravatedly experimental talent.

The bass is just about enough to rival the wild energy that carouses through Twivee’s rap bars that are rampant with hook-filled cursive. The UK artist’s intensity has already been lauded across the board, and he’s become a firm favourite of BBC Introducing with his truly authentic hard-hitting sound. It’s all too easy to see why.

GODLIKE feat Jay Will is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

South London’s MoHush broadsides us with every bar in his latest single, War of the Mastermind

Posted on 3 March 2022

After his latest single, War of the Mastermind, MoHush became one of South London’s hottest up and coming hip hop artists. In the same way that Kae Tempest’s and George the Poet’s music is matchless, MoHush delivers the hammering lyrical blows in a completely autonomous fashion.

I usually manage to write my reviews without profanity, but fuck me, MoHush’s emotionally-charged approach to hip hop is enough to broadside you with every bar. From the melodic-minor-key piano intro to the fragility in his harmonised vocals to the smoothness in his spoken-word rap style, War of the Mastermind is a flawless feat of hip hop, which deserves to put MoHush on the map. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

War of the Mastermind is now available to stream on Spotify.

You can also check out MoHush on Instagram, YouTube and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ease the Artist put the West Midlands on the UK hip hop map once again with ‘Go Off’

Posted on 15 February 2022

After 12 years in the industry, the trailblazing West Midlands, UK-based hip hop pioneer, Ease the Artist, has had plenty of time to find his signature sound. Based on the sheer charisma, grit and distinction in his seminal track, Go Off, you couldn’t ask for a brighter luminary.

Rather than solely relying on his rapid cadence – which alone is dizzying – he also finds plenty of space in his dynamic bars to lay down vocal hooks in the chorus and plenty of charismatic personality in the verses.

Go Off finds the perfect balance between convictive Grimey motivation and playful high vibes that allow you to embrace the true talent of Ease the Artist. So far, that talent has seen him featured on BBC Introducing and having one of his tracks selected to become the track of the week.

You can check out the official lyric video for Go Off by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK Rapper JPOW comes in with all guns blazing in ‘Socially Anti’, featuring Kirsty Clarke

Posted on 17 December 2021

For his latest release, Socially Anti, rapper and songwriter JPOW teamed up with Kirsty Clarke, who brought a breath-taking dynamic to this hard and fast hit. Her folkishly light vocal timbre and innocently soulful yet sharp style was the perfect contrast against JPOW’s dominant bars that affirm he takes no prisoners when he steps to the mic.

Without a doubt, the South Coast-hailing UK independent artist is one of the hottest new names in the UK rap scene. He takes the usual lyrical rap tropes and runs them through his scathing wit. As for the instrumentals, you would be hard-pressed to find a bolder mix of tone and texture. With the melodic reminiscences to Cosmo Shelldrake and the quivering classical notes around the snappy bass-drenched beats, Socially Anti is as cinematic as it is galvanising.

Check out the official lyric video for Socially Anti via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

East London’s Muzuri announced his arrival in the music scene with his debut single, 0127

Posted on 4 December 2021

East London rap artist, Muzuri has garnered plenty of hype with his debut release, 0127, which premiered on BBC Radio Essex on October 5th before officially releasing on October 15th.

The French rapper and songwriter takes influence from the likes of Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Static Major, but he left plenty of room for his own catchy sonic style in his debut which announces his arrival to the music scene and creates a vivid vignette of his life as an artist and hedonist.

With the arresting bounce of the snappy beats and the reverb around them, it is impossible not to get hooked into the atmosphere of 0127 which merges French and English hip hop culture. It’s a stellar track that succeeds in establishing Muzuri as one to watch.

0127 is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

South East London’s most promising hip hop enigma EmanFromDaA2 has released his latest high vibe hit, Stay Down, featuring Ricky Banks.

Posted on 22 October 2021
EmanFromDaA2

London-based rap artist, EmanFromDaA2, has brought a brand-new sound to the South-East hip-hop talent pool. His latest single, Stay Down, featuring Ricky Banks is the perfect introduction.

The funk-riding Afrobeat-inspired instrumentals give the up-tempo track a tropic touch while EmanFromDaA2 lays down his bars that he will quickly become renowned for under his new moniker. The first thing that grips you in the mix is the mindful and socially conscious wit in the lyrics. The lyric “It’s nothing new for us to stay down” hits you like a brick, but EmanFromDaA2 and Ricky Banks bring you right back up with their instantly magnetic presence.

Stay Down is due for official release on October 22nd. You can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jay Joe brought the best of UK hip hop with his latest release, Shaky.

Posted on 16 August 2021

London-born, Essex-based Rap artist Jay Joe dropped an instant grime classic with his latest single, Shaky. His energy, ensnaring. His lyrics, cutting, His beats, atmospheric; in usual drill hip hop fashion.

Fans of Tempa T, Tinie Tempah and Dizzee Rascal will want to make Shaky a playlist staple for its garagey beats, the adrenalizing aggression in the rap bars and Jay Joe’s ability to leave you floored with his lyrical flex. He’s already a firm fixture on the GRM Daily YouTube channel, but we highly doubt that will be the highest of accolades applied to Jay Joe’s gritty, scathing signature sound.

Shaky was released on August 15th; you can check out the official music video on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Milky – a deeply personal and honest debut with ‘I Miss You Mum’

Posted on 26 June 2021

Rising Brighton-based rap artist Milky has taken a bold step with releasing such a poignant, personal, and utterly confessional track as his debut single, but what a track it is; from the beautiful opening vocal courtesy of hometown friend Amy Owens, to the opening stanzas of Milky’s storytelling lyrical poetry (‘…those doctors can go fuck themselves/Yeah, I cut myself/It fuckin’ helps…’) ‘I Miss You Mum’ is just raw, open, and honest, and beautifully put together.

Released on We Are Not Saints records, a not-for-profit label and promotions company which works with musicians in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction; Milky is, himself, a recovering addict, a theme addressed within the lyrics alongside the narrative of the loss of his mother when he was aged just seven years old.

It’s a stunningly powerful track, truthful and honest without being maudlin or melancholic, hopeful rather than downbeat. On the basis of this, there’s a lot more to come from Milky.

Listen to ‘I Miss You Mum’ on Spotify – follow Milky on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Add eccentric soul to your RnB summer playlists with Elliot Danger Kid’s latest single, ‘Much Too Much’.

Posted on 11 June 2021

Before making his solo debut, Margate, UK-based hip hop artist, Elliot Danger Kid worked alongside the likes of Sean Paul, Little Mix, Take That and Clean Bandit. Now that he’s in control of his own sound, he’s cooking up quirky RnB hip hop hits; the perfect introduction to his eccentric sound is his latest single, Much Too Much.

Much Too Much grooves with summer disco vibes that fans of Chance the Rapper, Tyler, the Creator and Mac Miller will appreciate. The soul in the 80s synth-crafted release resonates just as much through Elliot Danger Kid’s expressively playful instrumental and vocal style as it does the honest and hard-hitting lyrics.

If your summer RnB playlists are already feeling a little stale, make this gospel-inspired track a staple.

Much Too Much is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Maple Struggle – Tip Toe featuring Hannah Doherty and KillBill Sax

Posted on 8 May 2021

Starting with haunting minor keys, Maple Struggle’s definitively British rap track, ‘Tip Toe’, hits hard from the first note. The evocative potency remains the only constant as the single progresses through jazzy ensembles, indie increments, neo-classic crescendos and bursts of RnB pop.

Every curveball twist in the soundscape, featuring pianist Hannah Doherty and American saxophonist KillBill Sax, leaves you more impassioned by Maple Struggle’s resounding talent and unique brand of urban alchemy. One minute, you are breathing in the smoke in a nicotine-soaked jazz club; the next, you are on the grimy streets of London.

Tip Toe isn’t just a stellar moody yet enlivening single; it quite literally leaves you giddy through the imagination and authenticity.

Tip Toe is now available to stream and download on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast